The
Good Life
Three young blokes having a crack at a dream Story & photos Eve Jeffery
G
oing into business can sometimes be hard work on top of more hard work, but Tommy Lee Lewes, Richie Foreman and Zeke Hower aren’t afraid of getting the job done – they are three young blokes having a crack at their dream – and the Earth Beer Company is that dream come true. Tommy works for Westpac Rescue helicopters as an aircrewman, Richie was a firefighter and a catering
TOGETHER WE CAN GO PLASTIC FREE! BIOPAK 5% DISCOUNT OFFER for new members of Make the Switch Join Plastic Free Byron's Make the Switch program (it's free) and for the first 3 months enjoy a 5% discount on BioPak purchases. Make the Switch works with food retailers in Byron to help them switch away from single-use plastics. Find out more & join at: plasticfreebyron.com/join
chef, and Zeke spent six years with Stone & Wood perfecting his mad beer wizardry and learning the many facets of the brewing business. Looking out toward Wollumbin, the Earth Beer Company has just celebrated their first anniversary. And 2020 was a tough year to start any business, but the boys have come through with shining colours and the brewery, as a venue, is bloody awesome. The brewery, located on lush Cudgen farmland, is just 20 minutes up the M1 from Byron Shire and a few minutes off the highway – the trio say that the support from the local community has been great. ‘It’s a privilege to brew and operate on a working avocado farm, and to harness the local produce
from our farm and neighbouring farms to include in our beers,’ says Richie. ‘We use avos for our seasonal avocado kolsch, honey from the hives for our coffee porter, and local mangoes for our mango Weiss beer. ‘People are just loving the authenticity of the brewery. We’re not just another tilt slab fit-out. We built the brewery by hand and housed it inside an old farmhouse packing shed. ‘There is a natural beauty of the region and the property, and of course there’s the mountain. We give a lot of attention to detail, and our quest is to brew the most well rounded, sustainable beers – sessionable beers – in Australia.’ As well as tasty brews, the Earth Beer Company also has a constantly changing range
Brewer, Zeke Hower, pouring some of the good stuff for Richie Foreman at the Earth Beer Brewery at Cudgen. of fresh bar snacks available. Earth Brewery’s first run of canned/packaged beer will take place later this month and the boys are super excited about that. ‘We’re starting with our Lightning Lager and the Rising Sun Pale Ale given how hugely popular they’ve been so far,’ says Zeke. ‘There are a few local
DſşŔ IJĶīIJ ĪëƆIJĶşŕ Ɛş ǖ şƱĕſƆǽ ĪſƖĶƐ and veggie farming
B
riana Atkins was only two weeks old when her parents decided to leave Brisbane for a tree change, buying a farm in Northern NSW. One of four children, Briana loved the outdoors and the freedom of life growing up in the country, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t lured away by the bright lights of the big city. In fact, she found herself a long way from the family farm – in London working for a high-end men’s fashion label. ‘My brother was living in London and working for a luxury menswear brand and
Briana Atkins at Bangalow Farmers Market. he organised a job for me,’ says Briana. ‘It was a lot of fun, and then the manager moved to RM Williams (in London) and I went with him. I already knew the brand
well and I was like their little Australian ambassador. It was great.’ Returning to Australia, Briana followed the fashion trail to Sydney, but it wasn’t
bars, and restaurants too, where we have a few things brewing, and who will be offering our beer on tap, which we know some of our locals are really looking forward to.’ Earth Brewery just launched their new website that has a facility for customers to pre-purchase the upcoming package beer,
merchandise and even order fresh growler and squealer fills (on the days they are open). ‘Our Rising Sun and Lightning Lager beers really are so freaking delicious,’ says Richie. ‘Just wait ’till you try them!’ Q You can find the Earth Beer Company at 592 Cudgen Road, Cudgen, or: www.earthbeercompany. com.au.
long before she found herself craving the wide-open spaces of the family farm ‘While I had fun and wanted to try the city thing, I realised that city life was not for me,’ says Brianna. ‘I love being outdoors and I always had an interest in farming, simply because I worked at the farmers’ markets with Dad since I was a kid and I really enjoyed it. But I never thought I’d be a farmer, it kind of just happened.’ Now 25-years-old, Briana has been working on the family farm and running the Jumping Red Ant stall at Byron and Bangalow Farmers Markets for three years. Even so, given her age, she is often mistaken for a helper rather than a farmer. ‘When I’m working at the
farmers’ market, no-one ever thinks I’m the farmer,’ says Briana. ‘They assume, because I’m so young, that I’m just a girl that works at the stall. But I am coming across more and more young female farmers, especially in this area, which is really encouraging.’ You can find Briana every Thursday at Byron Farmers Market and every Saturday at Bangalow Farmers Market at the Jumping Red Ant stall, which sells a range of fruit and vegetables, and fresh flowers. Q Byron Farmers Market is held Thursdays 7–11am at the Cavanbah Centre, and Bangalow Farmers Market is held Saturdays 7–11am behind the Bangalow Pub.
Dining at loft Casual, relaxed dining perfect for intimate dinners, groups and special occasions. Menu by Head Chef, Craig Mcfarland. Our new ‘set menu’ option is perfect for groups - enjoy our chef’s selection of dishes. View our menu online. Open every day from 4pm - Late
@loftbyronbay
18Loft-Echo-Ad-XL_260x88mm_V25.indd The Byron Shire Echo `ëŕƖëſƷ ǩǧǽ ǩǧǩǨ 1
Set Menus - Loft favorites -
- Loft dining -
7 dishes $39 pp
9 dishes $49 pp
for groups of 4+
North Coast news daily in Echonetdaily www.echo.net.au 2/9/20 4:49 p. m.